Cameron, Paige - Commando Cowboys Rescue Their Bride [Wyoming Warriors 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) (13 page)

His sexy mouth turned up in a rare smile. “Too bad. I’m quite accomplished in dressing ladies.”

“I imagine you are.” She started to close the bedroom door in his face.

His hand blocked her. “You have fifteen minutes. If you’re not dressed and out here by then, I’ll come in to help.”

“Then forget it. I can’t dress and fix my face in less than thirty minutes.”

“No makeup.” His hand cupped the side of her face. “You are beautiful just as you are,” he whispered, and lightly kissed her mouth.

Stunned by his soft touch and his words, she stared into his eyes. He turned her toward the bedroom. “Hurry.”

Morgan threw on jeans and a long-sleeved purple shirt. Her whole system was off-kilter ever since he’d knocked on the door with his sexy smile and the kiss that made her insides go gooey.

He cracked the door open. “I almost forgot. I have two presents for you.”

“Really?” She stared at the two boxes he carried in. “I didn’t see those outside.”

“My cabin is close. I rode over to get them while you dressed.” He placed the boxes beside her. “Open them. You’ll need them today.”

The first box held a beautiful pair of black boots, soft leather with a design done in a rusty red. “I love them.” She pulled them on. “They fit. How did you know my size?”

“I called Sara after I got home last night.”

“But how did you get them so quick?”

He held up a key. “I can get in the company store anytime. Open your other box.”

Excited, she yanked off the lid and found a cowboy hat. Justin reached inside and pulled it out placing it on her head. He pulled her up and over to the mirror. “Now you look like a cowgirl.”

Morgan stared at her reflection. She did look different. Her black curls peeked out from under the hat. Unadorned, her skin appeared to glow from within.

She glanced at Justin. Her heart skipped a beat. No, she couldn’t care for him and Ethan. Could she? She pushed the thought away.

“Let’s go see if I still remember how to ride,” she said, and walked around him to the front door. “I suppose you saddled the most ornery mare you have?” she teased.

“It was a consideration, but I thought I’d go easy on you today.”

She laughed and ran down the path to the horses. The fresh morning air smelled of bacon frying, wood fires, and damp grass. Throwing up her hands, she twirled in delight.

“I feel completely energized. Let’s go.” Justin had stopped walking and stared at her. “What?”

He strolled toward her. “What indeed.” He bent his head and kissed her. Another sweet kiss that stoked her body heat to a higher level. “I’ll give you a hand up.” He cupped his fingers, and when she put one foot in his hands, he hoisted her onto the saddle.

In a second he was in his saddle and beginning to lead the way. They rode around the barn and followed a narrow path toward the pastures on the left. In the distance, Morgan saw riders herding cattle. An eagle spread his wide wings and floated on the thermal air patterns.

“See why I love it here?” Justin rode beside her now.

“The beauty is breathtaking,” she agreed. They rode in silence. But she was always conscious of the man beside her. He and his horse moved in perfect symmetry. A beautiful sight in itself.

His saddle creaked and he turned to look at her. “Have dinner at my place, tonight.”

“Is that an order?”

He grinned. “I suppose it sounded that way. Will you come?”

“Are you cooking?”

“Sort of. I’m going to barbecue steaks and fix a salad.”

“Sure. I can’t visualize you in an apron. I can hardly wait.”

“No apron. Sorry to disappoint you. We’ll head back. I have work to do. You can always join me and see what my job entails.”

“You know I’m not good around most animals.”

“Just dogs, or others?”

She studied his eyes, trying to decide if he was seriously interested. He’d slowed his horse down and waited for her answer.

“There haven’t been many animals in my life. I don’t know how I feel about cows and whatever other types of animals you have here.”

“You appear comfortable on the mare.”

“She’s a sweet one. I used to love horses.” The words took her back for a minute to another time. She shook her head. “As I said, I haven’t been around any animals in years.”

He didn’t comment. When they got to her place, at least hers for now, he helped her down. She waved as he rode off with her mare’s reins in his hand.

Dinner at his house tonight.
Excitement curled inside her, along with anxiety. She may have made a mistake to agree to enter the lion’s den. A shiver ran across her shoulders. Too late. She’d agreed on the spur of the moment. She wasn’t brave enough to retract her acceptance.

Morgan strolled along the walkway to the front door. She’d call Sara. Maybe she needed some help today. There was no way she could sit around all day with nothing to do.

Chapter Eight

Justin knocked on her door at six o’clock. His hair curled from being damp, and his newer jeans and white shirt indicated he’d gone home and changed before coming to get her. His eyes roamed across her body. She’d put on one of her new pair of jeans, a frilly, multi-colored top, and sneakers.

“You look good enough to eat.”

“I’m not on the menu.”

“Too bad. I thought we’d walk to my place. You’ll need a light jacket.”

Morgan went to the hall closet and pulled out a short denim coat. Justin took it out of her hands and held the coat for her to slip her arms inside. His hands pulled the lapels close, and stayed still against her skin a moment longer than necessary. His fresh-air scent and the heat from his body surrounded her.

She made herself step out of his space.

“Shall we go?” she asked.

“Hungry?”

“Sure, how about you?” She glanced at his face as he closed her door and locked it.

He turned toward her and his lip curved up into the half smile that made her heart beat just a little faster.

“I’m hungry.” His husky tone curled her toes. She was in deep water.

Taking her hand, he led her down the walk, turned to the left for a short distance, and then left again. On each side of the long narrow road, larger cabins sat further back and much farther apart.

“How long have you lived here?”

“All my life, but if you mean here at this cabin, I’d say about four years. Since I returned from college.” He guided her toward the third cabin.

The walkway was three times longer than where she stayed. Several tall trees grew in the front yard. Justin unlocked the door and ushered her inside. She entered a large great room with an equally big fireplace at one end. On the opposite side of the room, a bar separated the kitchen from this area. Straight overhead was a loft. All the walls were a shiny wood. Morgan realized Justin was watching her.

“It’s very lovely.”

“Thanks. Ethan and I built it with some help.”

“You both live here?”

“Usually we’re gone at different times, so the times we actually live here together are not that often.” He took her hand and drew her further into the room. “Feel free to explore. I’m going to start the grill.”

Morgan took him at his word. She saw a hall to the left of the fireplace and strolled in that direction. The first room on the right held bookshelves loaded with an assortment of books and magazines. On one wall was a large television, and several big, comfortable-looking lounge chairs were scattered around the room.

Coming out, she crossed the hall and entered a bedroom. It was large, with a king-size bed, bedside tables, a chest of drawers, and another comfortable-looking chair. The walls were a slate blue, and the bedspread and curtains were that color with white strips. An open book lay on the small table by the chair. The room held Justin’s scent. It was a masculine room, but softer than she’d have expected of him.

“I see from your expression you like my room.” He stood leaning against the doorframe, a smoldering look in his eyes.

He reminded her of a beautiful, large cat she’d seen at the zoo years ago. He’d had the same look, the same tension in his muscles before he lunged toward the people watching him.

Forcing herself to look away, she glanced back around the bedroom. “Who was your decorator?”

“My cousin, Rae, Mitch’s sister. She has a gift for seeing what fits the person.” He sauntered into his room, shortening the distance between them.

Morgan stepped backward. Her legs touched the side of the bed. He moved quick, stepping into her space. His hand tipped her face to look at him, and he nodded at his bed.

“That’s where I want you.” His words came out blunt and hard.

“You know I care for Ethan. I can’t—want both of you.”

“Why not?”

Her breath caught in her throat thinking about both of them, here, around her. Heat and desire shot straight to her pussy. Justin leaned down, his mouth coming closer. In desperation, she pushed him back and ran out of his room.

She stood in the center of the great room, breathing hard.

What had he meant? That she could have them both? He couldn’t mean what she thought, could he?

Justin flashed her a smile when he joined her. “The steaks are on. I’d better check them. Could you get the salad out and see if the potatoes are done?” He glanced at the kitchen area.

“Sure.” It would be great to be busy. She’d forget the incident in the bedroom ever occurred. Yet she was afraid it would take a lot more than helping with dinner to remove her image of them all together on that big bed.

She put the salad on the small kitchen table where he’d set the plates and silverware. The potatoes were done, so she turned off the oven.

“Here we go.” Justin came in the back door carrying a platter with two good-size steaks.

Morgan put the potatoes on the table, while Justin opened a bottle of merlot. He filled their glasses, and then pulled out her chair. When he’d sat across from her, he raised his glass. “To getting to know each other better and many more pleasurable evenings.”

The wine tasted tart and smoky. Her steak was tender. She was surprised to find she was hungry. They ate without talking. A comfortable silence, with only soft music in the background coming from a hidden source. Her nerves, which had tightened into knots in the bedroom, gradually loosened. When Justin refilled her wineglass, she didn’t discourage him.

At some point she saw him lean back and stop eating. He sipped at his wine and watched her.

“Am I eating too much?”

He smiled. “No. I like a woman who enjoys her food and isn’t constantly worried about her figure. You surprise me, though. I expected you to pick at your food like you did when I took you out to dinner.”

“Ah yes, one of our few official dates. Apparently I didn’t make a good impression.” She twirled her wine glass in her hand. The light making the dark red color sparkle. “I didn’t eat much because I was nervous about making a good impression.” She shrugged. “You never called again.” She looked across at him and made eye contact. “Why the change now? Just yesterday you still appeared to dislike just about everything about me.”